Blake Farrow

I’m an engineer who loves making things, but I try my best to think like a scientist at work.

I help spread the good news of math and science as a master-of-none generalist and principal scientist at Brilliant.org. With the help of many experts and a crack team of writers and illustrators, I bring the cutting edge to the masses.

I studied applied physics and materials science at Caltech, with some generous funding from Howard Hughes. My research focused on macromolecular biophysics, and attempts at mimicking proteins with some creative chemistry. Before that, I studied nanotechnology engineering at the University of Waterloo, while researching bio-materials, next generation photovoltaics, and open quantum system simulation.

Like many Canadian expats, I discovered national pride only after I left my native land. I've since been an avid traveler, living and working abroad in Europe, China and the US. I chronicled my experience living in Tokyo working for a giant evil Japanese corporation in my blog, which I still update from time to time.

I enjoyed working as a barista in college, and skirted the line of being a molecular gastronomy food snob in grad school. I still reserve the right to pull out some coffee or sous-vide snobbery at my discretion.

Contact me via email: blake at brilliant dot org.

i built that pergola. it fell down in a windstorm. i rebuilt it better and stronger.